Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02656596 2008-12-31
WO 2008/008645 PCT/US2007/072482
CORNER BRACE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to folding, collapsible structures, and more
particularly relates to a corner brace for a framework of a canopy shelter.
Temporary shelters that can be easily transported and rapidly set up at
emergency
sites can be particularly useful in providing temporary care and housing. Such
shelters can
also be useful for non-emergency outdoor gatherings, such as for temporary
military posts,
field trips, and the like. One known quickly erectable, collapsible shelter
includes a
framework of X-shaped linkages, telescoping legs, and a canopy covering the
framework.
The legs of that shelter are capable of telescoping to about twice their
stowed length, and
the framework of X-shaped truss pairs is capable of horizontal extension
between the legs
to support a canopy. The framework can be constructed of lightweight material,
and the
telescoping legs can be extended to raise the framework of the shelter.
In order to increase the portability and versatility of such temporary
shelters, it is
important that they be not only lightweight and small enough in a folded,
compact
configuration so that can be readily transported and carried, but also large
enough and with
sufficient headroom when unfolded for a group of people to stand underneath
them. As
such structures have become larger and more lightweight, reinforcing features
that
contribute to strength, roominess, and ease of use in setting up and taking
down such
structures have also become increasingly important.
One modern type of tent structure provides a lightweight roof structure with
four
roof rods joined together at the center by a head connector member, with each
of the roof
rods formed of two rod members interconnected by intermediate pivot connecting
members. The roof rods are supported on top of a base structure formed by four
legs and
scissors-type linkages connected to a top fixed connector and a lower sliding
connector of
each leg. Each intermediate pivot connecting member between the individual rod
members of the roof rods confines upward rotation of the rod members to an
uppermost,
upwardly arching position, but allows the roof rods to be folded downwardly
when the tent
is collapsed. Reinforcing linking rods provided at the corners of the roof
structure are
coupled at one end to the lower sliding connectors on the legs, and are
slidably coupled at
the other end to the roof rods, to assist in stabilizing the roof rods in the
upwardly arched
position when the shelter is fully unfolded and extended. However, the sliding
coupling of
the corner linking rods must slide over a considerable length of the roof rods
which can
CA 02656596 2008-12-31
WO 2008/008645 PCT/US2007/072482
2
lead to abrasion and wear of the roof rods and eventually interfere with the
sliding of the
linking rods during setting up and taking down of the structure, without
providing any
significant reinforcing strength or vertical support of the roof structure
when the shelter is
fully unfolded and extended.
Lightweight shelters with raised roof structures are particularly useful for
holding
gatherings in inclement weather, to provide needed headroom and shed
precipitation and
debris, but raised roof structures can be particularly vulnerable to downward
forces placed
on a roof structure by strong winds. One approach to providing a lightweight
shelter with
a raised roof structure has been to make the roof structure flexible so that
it can move
between a raised, upwardly arching configuration when weather permits, and a
lowered,
downwardly arching configuration if the downward force of the wind is
sufficiently strong,
to automatically present a reduced profile to strong winds when necessary.
However, there
remains a significant problem for collapsible shelters that have a clear span
across a
middle portion of the perimeter truss assembly that is not directly connected
to and
supported by a leg. There thus remains a need for improved strength of the
canopy on
such unsupported sides of the canopy, to help prevent the unsupported sides
from caving in
due to heavy loading from strong winds. The present invention meets these and
other
needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly and in general terms, the present invention provides for a corner
brace for a
framework of a quickly erectable canopy shelter, in which the corner brace is
connected
between portions of a perimeter truss assembly about a leg of the framework of
the canopy
shelter, to provide improved strength and stability for a canopy shelter
having a clear span
across a middle portion of the perimeter truss framework of the canopy shelter
that is not
directly supported by a leg.
The present invention accordingly provides a corner brace assembly for a
framework of a quickly erectable canopy shelter, the framework of the canopy
shelter
including a leg and a perimeter truss assembly connected to a leg having an
upper end and
a lower end, and a slider member slidably mounted to the leg. The perimeter
truss
assembly includes first and second outer trusses of pairs of link members
connected to the
leg, each pair of link members of the first and second outer trusses including
a first link
member and a second link member pivotally connected together, the first link
member
CA 02656596 2008-12-31
WO 2008/008645 PCT/US2007/072482
3
having an outer end pivotally connected to the upper end of the leg, and the
second link
member having an outer end pivotally connected to the slider member.
The corner brace assembly includes a corner brace mounting pin mounted to and
extending from the first link member of the second outer truss; and a corner
brace member.
In one presently preferred aspect, the corner brace mounting pin includes an
enlarged head
spaced apart from the second outer truss. The corner brace member includes a
support
truss tube member pivotally connected to a support truss swivel bracket that
is rotatably
connected to an outer section of the first link member of the first outer
truss on one side of
the leg for rotational movement with respect to the first link member. The
second end of
the support truss tube member includes a support truss end fitting removably
connected to
an outer section of the first link member of the second outer truss on the
other side of the
leg, and the support truss end fitting includes a slot for removably receiving
the corner
brace mounting pin, to removably connect the first and second outer trusses
together. In a
presently preferred aspect, at least one of the outer trusses of pairs of link
members is
connected to a middle truss pair of link members. In another presently
preferred aspect,
the support truss tube member of the corner brace includes a support truss
clip adapted to
snap fit to one of the link members of the framework of the canopy shelter.
In another presently preferred aspect, the framework of the canopy shelter
includes
a canopy framework support assembly including a peak beam member having an
inner end
and an outer end pivotally mounted to the leg to extend across the shelter.
The peak beam
member typically includes an inner peak beam tube section and an outer peak
beam tube
section pivotally joined together through an over-center spacer. In a
presently preferred
aspect, the over-center spacer includes a locking flange allowing the inner
peak beam tube
section to rotate about the over-center spacer to an extended position braced
against the
locking flange. In another preferred aspect, the inner end of the peak beam
member may
be pivotally connected to a central peak hub assembly.
In another preferred aspect, the framework for the canopy shelter may also
include
a support strut member having an outer end pivotally mounted to the slider
member below
the peak beam member, and an inner end of the support strut member pivotally
connected
to the peak beam member to support the peak beam member.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more
apparent
from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in
conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the operation
of the
invention.
CA 02656596 2008-12-31
WO 2008/008645 PCT/US2007/072482
4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an outside elevational view of a corner portion of a framework of
a
canopy shelter, illustrating the corner brace according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is an inside elevational view of the corner portion of a framework of a
canopy shelter of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the corner portion of the corner portion of a
framework
of a canopy shelter of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the corner portion of a framework of a
canopy
shelter of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged top outside perspective view of the corner portion of a
framework of a canopy shelter of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged bottom inside perspective view of the corner portion of
a
framework of a canopy shelter of Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the swivel bracket of the support
truss
tube member of the corner brace of Fig. 1.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the support truss end fitting of the
support
truss tube member of the corner brace of Fig. 1.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the support truss end fitting
of the
support truss tube member of the corner brace of Fig. 1.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective elevational view of the over-center spacer
of the
peak beam member of the canopy framework support assembly of the framework of
a
canopy shelter of Fig. 1.
Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevational view of the corner portion shown in
Fig. 4.
Fig. 12 is an enlarged top perspective view of the central peak hub assembly
of the
framework of a canopy shelter of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While lightweight canopy shelters have been developed with raised roof
structures
and large spans suitable for holding gatherings in inclement weather, there
remains a
significant problem of instability due to heavy loading from strong winds for
such canopy
shelters that have a wide span across a middle portion of the perimeter truss
assembly that
is not directly connected to and supported by a leg.
As is illustrated in the drawings, the present invention accordingly provides
for a
corner brace assembly 20 for a framework 22, only a portion of which is shown,
of a
CA 02656596 2008-12-31
WO 2008/008645 PCT/US2007/072482
quickly erectable canopy shelter, typically including a perimeter truss
framework and a
central truss framework, which is connected to legs of the canopy shelter to
stabilize and
support the collapsible shelter, as is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,490,533,
which is
incorporated by reference herein. Referring to Figs. 1-4, the corner brace
assembly is
5 typically provided at a portion of the perimeter framework connected to a
leg 24 having
upper end 25 and lower end 26. The framework of the canopy shelter preferably
has four
legs, but can also have three, five, or more legs. A slider member 28 is
typically slidably
mounted to the leg, such as at an upper section of the leg. The extendible
perimeter
assembly 30 of link members connecting legs of the framework together
typically includes
X-shaped outer trusses 32 formed of pairs of link members 34 that are
pivotally connected
together at pivot point 36. The pairs of link members include first link
member 38 and
second link member 40. The first link member has an outer end 42 pivotally
connected to
the upper end of a leg, and the second link member having an outer end 44
pivotally
connected to the slider member. The first and second link members are thus
connected
together in a scissors configuration so as to be extendable from a first
collapsed position
extending horizontally between pairs of legs to a second extended position
extending
horizontally between the pairs of legs, as is described in U.S. Patent No.
5,490,533.
Referring to Figs. 1-4, on at least one side 46 of the framework of the canopy
shelter such an X-shaped outer truss may connected to another X-shaped outer
truss at
their inner ends 48, or may be connected to an adjacent leg, and on another
side 50 of the
framework of the canopy shelter forming a wide, clear span across the middle
of the
framework, the extendible perimeter assembly of link members may also include
one or
more X-shaped middle trusses 52 not directly connected to the legs, and only
supported by
the outer trusses. The middle truss is similarly formed by a pair of link
members 54
pivotally connected together at pivot point 56, and includes a first link
member 58 and a
second link member 60. The first link member of the middle truss has a first
end 62
pivotally connected to the inner end of the second link member of the adjacent
outer truss,
and the second link member of the middle truss has a first end 64 pivotally
connected to
the inner end of the first link member of the adjacent outer truss. The middle
truss is thus
similarly formed in a scissors configuration so as to be extendable from a
first collapsed
position extending horizontally between pairs of legs to a second extended
position
extending horizontally between the pairs of legs, as is described in U.S.
Patent No.
5,490,533. The middle truss may be connected to another middle truss at their
inner ends
66, or may be connected to another outer truss.
CA 02656596 2008-12-31
WO 2008/008645 PCT/US2007/072482
6
As is illustrated in Figs. 1-4, In order to provide additional support and
reinforcement for side of the framework forming the wide, clear span 69 across
the middle
of the framework, the corner brace assembly of the present invention includes
a support
truss tube member 70 having a first end 72 and a second end 74. Referring to
Figs. 5-9,
the first end of the support truss tube member is pivotally connected to a
support truss
swivel bracket or universal joint 76 that is in turn rotatably connected to an
outer section
78 of the first link member of a first outer truss 80 on one side 82 of the
leg for rotational
movement with respect to the first link member, so that the support truss tube
member is
capable of pivoting, reciprocal movement and rotational movement with respect
to the first
link member of the first outer truss 80. The second end of the support truss
tube member
includes a support truss end fitting 84 that is removably connected to an
outer section 86 of
the first link member of a second outer truss 88 on the other side 90 of the
leg. As is
illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the support truss end fitting includes a slot
92, such as a T-
shaped slot, for receiving a pin or bolt 94 with a correspondingly similar
configuration,
mounted to and extending from the first link member of the second outer truss,
and
typically having an enlarged head 96 spaced apart from the second outer truss,
allowing
the support truss tube member to be rotated to slide the slot of the support
truss end fitting
over the extending pin on the first link member of the second outer truss, to
removably
connect the adjacent outer trusses at the leg together when the framework is
in the
extended configuration as shown. As is shown in Figs. 3 and 5-6, the support
truss tube
member of the corner brace assembly may optionally include a support truss
clip 98
adapted to snap fit to one of the link members of the framework when the
support truss end
fitting is disconnected from the first link member of the second outer truss
and the
framework of the canopy shelter is to be folded and collapsed, such as for
transporting or
storing the canopy shelter.
In another presently preferred aspect, as is illustrated in Figs. 1-4 and 10-
12, the
canopy shelter framework includes a canopy framework support assembly 100
including a
peak beam member 102 having an outer end 104 pivotally mounted to the leg to
extend
across the shelter and movable between a lowered position (not shown) and a
raised,
upwardly extending position. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, each of the pole
members
typically comprises an inner peak beam tube section 106 and an outer peak beam
tube
section 108 that are pivotally joined together through an over-center spacer
110. The over-
center spacer advantageously includes a locking flange 112 allowing the inner
peak beam
tube section to rotate about the over-center spacer from a collapsed position
folded against
CA 02656596 2008-12-31
WO 2008/008645 PCT/US2007/072482
7
the outer peak beam tube section to an unfolded, extended position shown in
Fig. 10 and
braced against the locking flange.
With reference to Figs. 3-7 and 11, the canopy framework support assembly may
also include a support strut member 114 with an outer end 116 pivotally
mounted to the
leg below the peak beam member. In a presently preferred aspect, the support
strut
member is pivotally mounted to the slider member. The support strut member has
an inner
end 118 with a support bracket 120 pivotally connected to the outer peak beam
member to
support the peak beam member in a raised, upwardly extending position as
shown. As is
illustrated in Figs. 1-4 and 12, the inner end 122 of the peak beam member is
pivotally
connected to a central peak hub assembly 124, which is adapted to be connected
to a
plurality of other peak beam members of the framework of the canopy shelter. A
canopy
cover (not shown) may be placed over the canopy framework support assembly
secured to
the tops of the legs of the canopy shelter.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that while particular forms of the
invention
have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without
departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended
that the
invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.
